Steering-gear for vehicles.



H. SGHUMAGHER. STEERING GEAR FOB. VEHICLES. APPLICATION FILED FEB.3,1913.

Patented Nov. 17, 1914.

R D T N E V M PIE} 1.

ATTORNEYS-1'.

THE NORRIS PETERS CO.. PH010-LITHO.. WASHINGIUN. I). C.

@TATES PATENT @FTQE.

HENRY SCHUldACI-IER, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

STEERING-GEAR. FOR. VEHICLES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 17, 191st.

. Application filed February 3, 1913. Serial No. 745,770.

Improvements in Steering-Gears for Vehicles, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to that type of steering gears for automobiles orsimilar vehicles in which the steering arms are pivotally connected withthe steering axle by means of ball and socket joints arranged within thesteering arms and vertically in line with the tread of the steeringwheels.

It is the object of this invention to provide a steering gear of thischaracter which can be manufactured at low cost, which produces a firmand reliable joint of ample area between the axle and the axle arm whichis sufficiently strong to resist the strains to which the same issubjected and which is not liable to wear unduly.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinalsection of my improved steering gear applied to the axle and axle armadjacent to one of the wheels of the steering mechanism. Fig. 2 is ahorizontal section thereof in line 2-2, Fig 1. Figs. 3 and 4 arefragmentary vertical transverse sections taken in the correspond inglynumbered lines in Fig. 2. Figs. 5 and 6 are detached perspective viewsof the two parts of the divided bushing forming the bearing of myimproved steering gear.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughoutthe several views.

1 represents one of the axle arms of the steering gear upon theperiphery of which the adjacent steering wheel 2 is mounted for verticalrotation by any suitable means. WVithin the inner part of this axle armthe same is provided with a socket 3 which is preferably of cylindricalform and arranged substantially horizontal and opens toward the innerend of the axle arm. Within this socket is arranged the upper and lowersections l, 5 of a bushing the periphery of which is prefe'ably ofcylindrical form and engages snugly with the bore of the socket in theaxle arm. its inner flat end bearing gagainst the corresponding flatbottom of the socket. On the interior of the bushing the same isprovided with a ball-shaped or spherical internal bearing 6 which opensthrough the outer end of the bushing and has a superficial area morethan half of a sphere. The division between the upper and lower sectionsof the bushing is arranged horizontally and extends lengthwise throughthe center of its spherical bearing.

7 represents an axle which is provided at, its end with a shank Sternnnating in a ball or spherical knuckle 9. The latter is journalcd inthe spherical bearing of the bushing and the shank extends through theopen side of this bearing. The axle, axle arm and the bushing arepivotally connected with each other so as to permit the axle arm to turnhorizontally relatively to the axle, this being preferably accomplishedby means of a vertical pivot pin 10 extending.through coincidingopenings formed in the upper and lower parts of the axle arm, the upperand lower sections of the bushing, and the spherical knuckle of the axlearm in line with the center or axis of the spherical knuckle andbearing.

At the outer end of the cylindrical socket of the axle arm the same isprovided on its upper side with a flat horizontal bearing face 11 and onits lower side with a corresponding flat horizontal face 12. At theouter end of each bushing section adjacent to the cylindrical peripherythereof the same is provided with an outer flat llOl'lZOlltal face 13which is adapted to engage with one of the flat outer horizontal facesof the axle arm and on the inner side of each or these bushing sectionsthe same is provided adjacent to the outer end of the spherical socketthereof with an inner flat horizontal face 14:. The opposing inner flatfaces Ll of the two bushing sections engage respectively with the upperand lower horizontal flat faces on the shank of the axle and assist inguiding the axle arm. as the same turns horizontally relatively to theaxle.

By forming the bearing for the knuckle of the axle in a bushing which isseparate from the axle arm and dividing the bushing lengthwise throughthe hearing it is possible to produce a perfect joint betweenthe axlearm and axle at comparatively low cost inasmuch as the socket in theaxle arm can be bored easlly and the two sections of the bushing can bemade and fitted accurately to.

the ball of the axle before inserting these bushing sections in thesocket of the axle arm. Further-name, by making the bush ing in sectionsand separate from the axle arm it is possible to provide a bearingcontact between the bushing and the ball of the axle which is more thanhalf of the spherical area of the ball andsocket, thereby increasing thebearing surface, distributing the wear over a greater area andincreasing the strength of the joint between the axle arm and axle.

In order to sustain the axle arm and the wheel against tippingvertically in a vertical plane transversely of the vehicle, means areprovided which are preferably constructed as follows: 15 represents aconvex track or guideway arranged on the outer end of each bushingsection concentrically with the axis of the pivot pin 10 and the balland socket joint between the axle arm and axle. Adjacent to the outerend of each bushing section is arranged a transverse bar 16 which issecured to the adjacent outer part of the axle arm and provided on itsinner side with a concave track or guideway 17 which faces the convextrack of the respective bushing section and is also concentric with theaxis of the pivot pin and the ball and socket joint. On its upper andlower sides the shank of the axle is provided with upper and lowerthrust rollers l8, 19 each of which is pivotally mounted on this shankin any suitable manner and engages its opposite sides with the convextrack of one bushing section and the companion concave track of thecompanion supporting bar. As the axle arm is turned horizontally on theaxle the upper and lower pairs of convex and concave tracks move alongthe upper and lower thrust rollers so that no appreciable resistance isoffered to the movement of the axle arm in this direction but it thewheel and axle arm. are subjected to any strains which tend to tip thesame vertically and in a direction transversely to the vehicle suchmovement is resisted by engagement of the concave and convex tracks ofthe axle arm with the thrust rollers oi the axle. This steering gear forvehicles is very durable and ei'licient in operation, the same can beproduced economically and when the joint between the axle and axle armbecomes worn out the worn parts can be replaced at small cost.

1 claim as my invention: I

1. A steering axle for vehicles comprising an axle arm provided in itsinner part with a cylindrical socket, a bushing having a cylindricalexterior which engages the bore of the socket and a spherical internalbearing divided lengthwise into upper and lower sections through saidbearing and provided at its outer end with a convex track curvedconcentrically with the axis of said bearing, an axle having a sphericalknuckle j ournaled in said bearing, and a roller mounted on said axleand engaging with said track.

A steering axle for vehicles comprising an axle arin provided in itsinner part with a cylindrical. socket, a bushing having a cylindricalexterior which engages the bore of the socket and a spherical internalbean ing divided lengthwise into upper and lower sections through saidbearing and each section provided at its outer end with a track curvedconcei'itrically with the axis of said bearing, an axle having aspherical knuckle journaled in said bearing, and rollers mounted on theupper and lower sides of said axle and engaging with the tracks of saidupper and lower bushingsections. I I

I 3. A steering gear for vehicles co1npris- 111g anv axle arm providedat its inner end with a cylindrical socket, a bushing having acylindrical exterior engaging with the bore of said socket and aspherical internal hearing which opens at its outer end and is dividedcentrally lengthwise through its hearing so as to form upper and lowersections and each section being provided at its outer end with a convextrack which is curved concentrically with the bearing, concave tracksmounted on the axle arm and each opposed to one of the convex tracks,-

and rollers mounted on the upper and lower sides oi the axle and eachengaging its opposite sides with one of the convex tracks and itscompanion concave track. l. A steering gear for vehicles compris- 111gan axle arm provided in its inner part with a cylindrical socket and atthe outer end of said socket with upper and lower fiat horizontal faces,a bushing having a cylindrical. exter or engaging with the bore of thesocket and provided with an internal spherical socket, said bushingbeing divided centrally lengthwise of its bearing into upper and lowersections each of which is provided at the outer end of its peripherywith a fiat outer horizontal face and at the outer end of its spherical.face with a flat inner horizontal face, the flat outer face of eachbushing section engaging with one of the flat faces of said axle arm,and an axle engaging with the inner :(iat faces of said bushing sectionsand having a spherical knuckle journaled in said bearing.

l/Vitness my hand thisBOth day of November, 1912.

HENRY SGHUMACHER. Witnesses L. BRADLEY Donn, THEo. Srnno.

Copies of this patent may be. obtained for five cents each, byaddressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. '3.

